The young man said to him, “I have kept all these; where do I still fall short?”Yeshua said to him, “If you are serious about reaching the goal, go and sell your possessions, give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!”But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he was wealthy.Then Yeshua said to his talmidim, “Yes. I tell you that it will be very hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.Furthermore, I tell you that it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” - Matthew 19:20-24
It is this very set of verses in the Bible that has led some to believe that this means in order to follow Jesus, we all should just give up our stuff and then do good deeds. Umm, okay? I'm pretty sure that's not what Jesus is actually saying here. Here is why I say that:
Jesus often was using his words to prove a point, not merely as commands on how to live life. It would be very much like if I was to tell someone who had a lot of money "Give it all away to those who need it!" When they refuse, my point is made. Same situation here - It's not that Jesus actually wanted the rich man to "go and sell your possessions", for being God, he knew the rich man would not do it. Instead, he was showing those around them that, in order to be committed to what God wants, you have to be willing to lay down your life and do what he asks.
So, unless God is actually giving you the Word to sell everything you own, keep what God has blessed you with here on Earth, and use those things to make God happy!
What do YOU think? Is your worldly possessions helping you follow God, or is it truly a crutch in your life? Would getting rid of everything you own help you live better, or would it hinder you? Let me know in the comments below!
It is this very set of verses in the Bible that has led some to believe that this means in order to follow Jesus, we all should just give up our stuff and then do good deeds. Umm, okay? I'm pretty sure that's not what Jesus is actually saying here. Here is why I say that:
Jesus often was using his words to prove a point, not merely as commands on how to live life. It would be very much like if I was to tell someone who had a lot of money "Give it all away to those who need it!" When they refuse, my point is made. Same situation here - It's not that Jesus actually wanted the rich man to "go and sell your possessions", for being God, he knew the rich man would not do it. Instead, he was showing those around them that, in order to be committed to what God wants, you have to be willing to lay down your life and do what he asks.
So, unless God is actually giving you the Word to sell everything you own, keep what God has blessed you with here on Earth, and use those things to make God happy!
What do YOU think? Is your worldly possessions helping you follow God, or is it truly a crutch in your life? Would getting rid of everything you own help you live better, or would it hinder you? Let me know in the comments below!